Get Your OneCard ID: Faculty/Staff/Retirees

New Employees

SPS and Civil Service

New employee's need to have an active NIU email before coming to the OneCard Office to get their ID. You will need to bring a state ID, a state driver's license or a passport with you.

Faculty

New employee's need to have an active NIU email before coming to the OneCard Office to get their ID. You will need to bring a state ID, a state driver's license or a passport with you.

Current Employees

I already have my OneCard ID

If you already have a OneCard ID and it is in working order, your ID will not expire and will remain valid as long as you are employed at NIU. Be sure to hold on to your card and take care of it.

I have not received a OneCard ID yet

All employees should have an NIU issued identification card and the OneCard ID is just that. If you have not been given a OneCard ID since you have been employed, you may be eligible to obtain your first card.

Do I need a new OneCard ID to use the AnywherePrints printers?

If you have received your OneCard ID anytime after 2008, you still have your ID, and the card is not broken or damaged, it is not necessary for you to replace your OneCard at this time. There is no updated functionality needed for this printing project and your current ID will work properly for printing.

If you are unsure your OneCard ID is in working order, or obtained after 2008, you may stop by the OneCard ID Services office and we will be happy to test your card.

My OneCard ID is damaged or not working

If your OneCard ID becomes damaged or is not working, make sure to hang on to the card in order to replace it. There is a $10 replacement cost for a new ID for employees, but only if the current ID is returned to the OneCard office. For more information, please see our troubleshooting tips.

I have misplaced or lost my OneCard ID

There is a $20 replacement cost for a new ID for employees. Payment options are cash or check only. It is highly recommend that you follow the instructions for a lost ID for your security.

New/Existing Retirees

Email Request (preferred method)

Send email to onecard@niu.edu with name, EMPLID, classification (i.e., SPS or Civil Service) and retirement date.

The OneCard office will email back when you have been cleared to receive a retiree OneCard. Please allow one week for verification with HR and processing.

Once the OneCard office responds, please bring in your government issued photo ID and your current OneCard (or there is a replacement fee of $20.00 for a new OneCard).

Walk-in

Please bring in your government issued photo ID and current OneCard (or there is a replacement fee of $20.00 for a new OneCard). There is a possibility that you will leave without receiving a OneCard since we will have to validate your retirement date with HR. (If you email us your request ahead of time, we can avoid this issue by verifying with HR before you pick-up your retiree OneCard).

How to Obtain Your Employee OneCard

  • 1

    All Photo Submissions Will Start With an Email From OneCard

    Faculty/Staff and Retirees – Request New, Lost, or Damaged OneCard by stopping at the OneCard Office. Please bring a state-issued ID, or Passport.

    Remote Faculty/Staff and Retirees – Request New, Lost, or Damaged OneCard by sending an email to onecard@niu.edu.

    Please include a Copy of state-issued ID or Passport, first and last name, A-ID #, and retiree date if applicable.

  • 2

    Waiting for Email

    You will receive an email from the OneCard office within 1-3 business days to submit your photo.

  • 3

    Guidelines for Uploading a Successful Photo

    Provide a clear, recent color photo of only yourself (within 6 months)

    Select a plain, light-colored background (no objects in view)

    Face the camera straight-on and centered

    Avoid photos of a photo (e.g., passport, license)

    Capture from top of your head to your waist (include space around head and body)

    male

    Submitted photo

    male onecard id

    Final OneCard ID

    female

    Submitted photo

    female onecard id

    Final OneCard ID


    Below are examples of denied photos:

    No Sunglasses and no background

    - Background
    - Sunglasses

    no Headwear and too close

    - Headwear
    - Too Zoomed In

    Side/Profile

    - Side/Profile

    Group

    - Group
    - Partial Head

    no Hands/Gestures and no facial expressions

    - Hands/Gestures
    - Face Expressions

    no Grainy/Blurry images

    - Grainy/Blurry

    no Copyright/Watermark and no text

    - Copyright
    - Text
    - Watermark

    no Black and White

    - Black & White
    - Edited/Filters

  • 4

    Wait for Your Photo Approval or Denial Status

    • You will be given the status of your request via your A-ID or NIU Faculty/Staff email within 2-3 business days on whether your photo was approved or denied.
    • Approved Photo – See step 5.
    • Denied Photo – Please resubmit a new photo following the guidelines in step 3 listed above.
  • 5

    Receive Your OneCard ID

    Your NIU OneCard will be available for pickup in 2 business days at the OneCard Office during regular business hours.

    Special Mailing Request (eligible only for employees who do not work on DeKalb campus) - please email onecard@niu.edu. Also, please ensure that your address is correct in MyNIU-Human Resource System. Mailed OneCard IDs may take 10 to 15 business days to arrive from the mailing date.

    IMPORTANT: Any card issued after the initial card has been mailed will be subject to a $20 fee.

    For more information, see our OneCard brochure.

Contact Us

OneCard ID Services
Founders Memorial Library
Room 104
DeKalb, IL 60115

Phone: 815-753-9569
Email: onecard@niu.edu

Business Hours

OneCard Uses

The OneCard ID is the official identification card of Northern Illinois University. It is your key to accessing all functions on campus:

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